"I need to go," Julian said quickly before ending the call. He shut the laptop immediately and walked over to the bed just as Amara slowly opened her eyes.

Her lashes fluttered weakly beneath the soft hospital lights. The moment Julian saw her awake, something warm settled in his chest again.

Relief. Pure relief. He gently took her hand into his. "Did I wake you up, my love?" he asked softly.

His eyes were filled with quiet devotion as he looked at her. Amara shook her head weakly.

Her throat felt dry. "Water..." she whispered. Julian immediately reached for the glass beside the bed.

"Easy." He carefully helped her sit up slightly before holding the glass for her.

Amara took a small sip first. Then another. The cold water soothed her throat instantly.

Julian watched her the entire time like he was afraid she might disappear if he blinked. The moment she finished drinking, the first thing Amara asked was... "How is Seren?"

Julian paused slightly. Of course. Even after everything... This was still Amara. Sweet-hearted. Soft-hearted. Always worrying about others before herself.

His expression softened further. "She’s okay," he said gently. "Weak, but okay."

Amara visibly relaxed at that. "Well... that’s good." Julian hesitated briefly before adding.

"She came here while you were asleep." Amara blinked in surprise.

"She did?" Julian nodded. "She wanted to see you." Something complicated flickered across Amara’s face after hearing that.

Pain. Confusion. Love. Too many emotions tangled together. She lowered her eyes quietly for a second before speaking again.

"How long was I asleep?" Her voice still sounded weak. "And what time is it now?"

She tried to sit up better, but Julian immediately moved closer to support her carefully. "Slow down," he murmured gently.

His hand stayed protectively against her back while helping her settle comfortably against the pillows. "It’s late," he said quietly. "Or early morning technically."

Amara frowned slightly. "You stayed here the whole time?" Julian almost looked offended by the question. "Where else would I be?" The answer came so naturally that it made Amara stare at him quietly. There was exhaustion in his face.

His shirt sleeves were rolled up messily. His tie had long disappeared somewhere during the night. And yet. He still looked at her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.

"You were under a lot of stress," Julian said softly. "Your blood pressure kept going up, so the doctors sedated you for a few hours."

Amara looked at him carefully. The dark circles beneath his eyes were obvious now. His hair was slightly messy from running his hands through it all night, and the exhaustion in his face was impossible to miss.

"You probably didn’t sleep, did you?" she asked quietly. Julian smiled faintly. A tired smile. But a real one. "You were unconscious, Amara," he said simply, like that alone explained everything.

And honestly. It did.

Amara’s expression softened for a second before she pushed the blankets aside slightly. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"We should go home."

Julian immediately looked at her. "Come on," she said gently. "You can finally rest properly there."

She tried to move again, but this time Julian didn’t help her up. Instead, he stayed still.

Too still. Because there was nothing he wanted more than to take her home. To get her far away from Seb. Far away from this hospital.

Far away from everything. But the bleeding earlier still haunted him. Even if it had stopped.

Even if the doctors were calm. The thought alone terrified him. He could not risk her. Not now.

"Come on, Julian," Amara whispered softly. "Take me home." Then suddenly she smiled faintly.

"You promised, remember?" Julian looked at her quietly.

"Our home birth." Her hand slowly rested over her stomach. "In the flower pool." A small laugh escaped her.

"That was the plan, right?" Julian’s chest tightened painfully. Because she sounded so hopeful saying it.

So normal. Like everything hadn’t just fallen apart around them. He gently took her hand and kissed her fingers softly.

"Why don’t you rest a little longer first?" he suggested carefully. Amara immediately narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Julian." That tone already told him she sensed something was wrong. "What are you not telling me?"

Julian sighed quietly. "What happened?" she asked again, more serious now. "Did the doctor say something?" He hesitated briefly before finally answering honestly.

"Yes." Amara’s face immediately paled.

"You bled earlier," Julian explained softly. "It wasn’t much." He quickly squeezed her hand reassuringly before panic could fully settle in.

"But the doctor thinks we shouldn’t move you yet." Amara stayed quiet for a second, processing the information.

Then finally. "Okay." Julian blinked slightly, surprised she accepted it so quickly. "Fine," she murmured. "Maybe the home birth idea won’t work anymore." There was disappointment in her voice now.

Small. But painful enough for Julian to notice immediately. Before he could comfort her, Amara suddenly looked up again.

"Then let’s move hospitals." Julian sighed internally. Of course she would say that next.

"The Vale Memorial?" she asked before instantly shaking her head herself. "No. Your aunties and uncles probably have spies there."

Julian almost smiled despite everything. She wasn’t wrong. "Fine," Amara continued quickly. "We’ll go to Piers Hospital instead."

She immediately started looking around for her phone. "I’ll call Doctor Hamson." Julian watched her silently for a second.

Then slowly reached forward and took the phone gently from her hands before she could dial. Amara looked up at him instantly.

"Julian."

His expression softened.

"Baby..." he said quietly, sitting beside her again. "Can you stop trying to solve everything for five minutes?"

Amara opened her mouth to argue immediately. But Julian leaned closer and rested his forehead lightly against hers.

"Just breathe for a second," he murmured. "Please." For the first time since waking up. Amara finally stopped moving.

"The Piers Hospital is controlled by Amira now," Julian reminded her softly. "And with Leo, Seb, and everything happening..." He shook his head slightly. "No."

Amara looked unconvinced.

"But I already have things under control," Julian continued calmly. "The moment the doctors give us the green light, we’ll move to Vale Memorial."

His hand gently covered hers.

"I already made the arrangements."

Amara studied his face quietly.

There was something incredibly steady about Julian whenever he spoke to her like this. Even when everything around them was chaos, he always sounded certain.

Controlled. Safe.

"Trust me," he said softly. "I’ll keep you safe."

His eyes lowered briefly toward her stomach. "You and our babies."

The tenderness in his voice made something inside Amara loosen slightly.